Method for carrying out the network-side recognition of specific capabilities of subscriber stations in a communications system

ABSTRACT

In a radio communications system having network devices and the at least one subscriber station, each subscriber station has specific capabilities determined by parameter values. Parameters are at least partially combined to form at least one parameter class. A class value is respectively assigned to different combinations of parameter values concerning different parameters within the parameter class. The class value of the parameter class, as well as at least one parameter value, are signaled to at least one network device of the communications system. This reduce the signaling complexity and ensures a high degree of flexibility with regard to the capabilities of the subscriber station(s).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and hereby claims priority to EuropeanApplication No. 01130733.7 filed on Dec. 21, 2001, the contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to network-side recognition of specificcapabilities of at least one subscriber station in a communicationssystem, particularly in a radio communications system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Communications systems generally contain network devices and at leastone subscriber station. Communications systems are playing anincreasingly important role, particularly in the business field. At thesame time, flexibility requirements are also increasing. It is thereforedesirable for communications systems to support various kinds ofsubscriber stations. In such systems, the diverse nature of subscriberstations is expressed in specific capabilities which a subscriberstation provides and/or supports. The specific capabilities of asubscriber station, which are characterized by parameters, aredetermined or coded by parameter values.

The capabilities of the individual subscriber stations are of greatimportance for communication in the communications system. It istherefore necessary for parameter values of the subscriber stations tobe known on the network side, i.e. in at least one network device of thecommunications system, so that communication can ensue according to thespecific capabilities of a subscriber station. In particular, thecommunication can be adapted to the capabilities of the subscriberstation on the network side.

The subscriber station generally announces its capabilities in the formof parameter values to at least one network device of the communicationssystem. Due to the high complexity of modern communications systems, thecapabilities of subscriber stations are mostly determined by a pluralityof parameters.

An example of a communications system which is particularly complex is aradio communications system. Here there are a large number of parameterswhich correspond to the capabilities of the subscriber stations, i.e.the mobile stations. Examples thereof are, for instance, the memoryavailable, the supported data rate and the computing power.

In radio communications systems, information (for example speech, imageinformation or other data) is transmitted with the aid ofelectromagnetic waves between a base station and a mobile station via aradio interface. In such a system, the electromagnetic waves are emittedusing carrier frequencies which are in the frequency band provided forthe system in question. Frequencies in the frequency band of around 2000MHz are provided for future mobile radio systems using TD/CDMAtransmission methods or FD/CDMA transmission methods via the radiointerface, such as, for example, the UMTS (Universal MobileTelecommunications System) or other systems of the third generation.

With respect to radio communications systems of the third generation,the capabilities denoted as “UE capabilities” (UE=User Equipment) arefor example described as parameters and parameter values for mobilestations of a radio communications system of the third generation in thespecification for the UMTS standard:

3GPP Technical Specification TS 25.306,

Version 4.2.0 (2001-09)

“UE Radio Access Capabilities”

(Release 4).

From a network point of view it is advantageous if the number ofdifferent capabilities of subscriber stations that has to be supportedis not too high since each of said subscriber stations potentially hasto be configured individually by the network.

On the other hand, however, it is important for many differentcapabilities of subscriber stations to be accepted so that the differentrequirements that exist at the user end in terms of the capabilities ofthe subscriber stations in the communications system can be supported.Concomitant with this, there is on the part of the manufacturers ofsubscriber stations a desire for the subscriber stations manufactured bythem to be distinguishable from those produced by other manufacturers,by virtue of the particular capabilities thereof.

A high flexibility with respect to the diverse nature of the subscriberstations accepted in a communications system means that a high number ofparameter values have to be transmitted to the network. On the otherhand, a preset limited selection of parameters or parameter valuesrestricts the flexibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that ofdisclosing a method and a communications system of the kind mentionedabove, having on the one hand a high degree of flexibility with respectto the specific capabilities of the subscriber stations in thecommunications system, and on the other hand allowing a reduction in thenumber of signals that need to be transmitted between the subscriberstation and the network.

According to the invention, parameters are combined at least partiallyinto at least one parameter class, a respective class value beingassigned to various combinations of parameter values relating todifferent parameters within the at least one parameter class. Both theclass value of the at least one parameter class and at least oneparameter value are signaled to at least one network device of thecommunications system.

The invention is based on the concept of combining two possiblestatements. In the first statement, the number of values that need to betransmitted could be vastly reduced by transmitting all the parametervalues exclusively coded in class values, with the result that eachrespective class value represents a plurality of parameter valuescombined within the parameter class. If only a limited number ofparameter classes are accepted in a communications system, however,there is then only a limited possibility of differentiation with respectto the capabilities of the subscriber stations. A different statementoffers the utmost flexibility with respect to the capabilities ofsubscriber stations, yet it requires the transmission of all theparameter values individually to at least one network device of thecommunications system.

The advantage of a hybrid method is that, on the one hand, it ensuresflexibility with respect to the subscriber stations supported by thecommunications system but on the other hand, by having partial recourseto the transmission of signals for class values of parameter classes, itsignificantly reduces the number of signals that need to be transmitted.

The above reduction is of great importance particularly with respect toradio communications systems, since the radio interface represents acritical resource, which can clearly be used more sparingly as a resultof the reduction in the number of signals that need to be transmitted.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the development of the invention, in the at least one parameterclass, parameter values having minimum capabilities with respect to theparameters of the at least one parameter class are combined. This hasthe advantage that from time to time deviations are possible between, onthe one hand, the one or a plurality of parameter values of theparameter class signaled to the network device by the parameter value,and on the other hand, the parameter value corresponding to the actualcapability of the subscriber station or the parameter valuescorresponding to the actual capabilities of the subscriber station. Suchdeviations are likely to relate only to an increase in the capability,however.

Within the context of the invention, there is a possibility that the atleast one parameter class contains the parameter of the at least oneparameter value. In such a case, the parameter value signaledindividually replaces the value corresponding to the same parametercoded in the parameter class.

It is possible, however, that the at least one parameter of the at leastone parameter value is different from the parameters of the at least oneparameter class. In such a case, the parameter value signaledindividually completes the parameter values coded with the class valueof the parameter class.

The aforementioned options can also be combined to the effect thatparameter values of at least two parameters are signaled, at least onefirst parameter being included in the parameters of the at least oneparameter class and at least one second parameter being different fromthe parameters of the at least one parameter class.

In the development of the invention, the parameters combined to form theat least one parameter class are selected on the basis of the relevancethereof to communication. This enables appropriate weightings to becarried out for the signaling of the parameter values.

The number of signals that need to be transmitted can additionally bereduced by not signaling parameter values relating to parameters forwhich all subscriber stations of the communications network have anidentical parameter value.

The communications system according to the invention, in particular aradio communications system, contains network devices, at least onesubscriber station. At least one network device performs thenetwork-side recognition of specific capabilities of the at least onesubscriber station, which capabilities are characterized by parametersand are determined by parameter values. Furthermore, a communicationpath is provided for the signaling of both one class value of at leastone parameter class and at least one class value of the at least onesubscriber station to at least one network device of the communicationssystem, parameters being combined at least partially into at least oneparameter class and a respective class value being assigned to variouscombinations of parameter values for different parameters within the atleast one parameter class.

The components of the communications system according to the inventionthat have prime importance within the context of the invention are thenetwork device and the subscriber station of the communications system,in particular of the radio communications system.

Network devices according to the invention provide

-   -   network-side recognition of specific capabilities of an at least        one subscriber station of the communications system, which        capabilities are characterized by parameters and are determined        by parameter values, and    -   receiving and processing of signaling data which contain both a        class value of at least one parameter class and at least one        parameter value of the at least one subscriber station,        parameters being combined at least partially into at least one        parameter class and a respective class value being assigned to        various combinations of parameter values relating to different        parameters within the at least one parameter class.

Subscriber stations according to the invention

-   -   transmit to at least one network device of the communications        system signaling data which contain parameter values for the        specific capabilities of the subscriber station, which        capabilities are characterized by parameters, and    -   hold and transmit signaling data to the network device of the        communications system, which data contain both a class value of        at least one parameter class and at least one parameter value of        the subscriber station,        parameters being at least partially combined into at least one        parameter class and a respective class value being assigned to        various combinations of parameter values for different        parameters within the at least one parameter class.

The invention is described hereafter using a simplified example.

The present example considers only parameters of subscriber stations ofa radio communications system, that is the data rate and the memory. Inthe radio communications system, there are for example the parameterclasses A, B and C, which are shown in the table below.

Parameter class Data rate Memory A 14.4 kbit/s  10 kB B   64 kbit/s 100kB C  128 kbit/s 200 kB

A mobile station is intended to be able to signal to at least onenetwork device that it has, as minimum capabilities, the capabilities ofthe parameter class, for example. In addition, however, the subscriberstation is supposed to be able to indicate that it has for example amemory of 200 kB. In a complex radio communications system workingaccording to the radio standard UMTS, for example, first the class valueof parameter class B and additionally a parameter value for the memoryof 200 kB can be signaled to the at least one network device.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understoodthat variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit andscope of the invention.

1. A method for network-side recognition of specific capabilities ofsubscriber stations in a radio communications system containing networkdevices and at least one subscriber station, comprising: containing oneor more parameters that are used for determining the specificcapabilities of the subscriber stations in at least one parameter class;specifying each parameter class to represent various combinations ofparameter values relating to the one or more parameters contained ineach parameter class; assigning a class value to each parameter class toindicate a respective parameter class; signaling, by the subscriberstation, both a class value that indicates a parameter class, the classvalue being a representation of both of one or more parameters containedwithin the parameter class and the values of the one or more parameterscontained within the parameter class, and at least one other parametervalue of any parameter, to at least one network device of the radiocommunications system; and specific capabilities of a subscriber stationbeing determinable by a network device by; receiving both a class valueand other parameter value of any parameter, according to a comparisonwith specified parameter classes, recognizing based upon the receivedclass value one or more parameters contained within a parameter classand values of the one or more parameters contained within the parameterclass, and recognizing the other parameter value of any parameter.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein said containing contains in aparameter class parameter values having minimum capabilities withrespect to the parameters of the parameter class.
 3. A method accordingto claim 1, wherein the parameter class indicated by the signaled classvalue contains the any parameter of the at least one other parametervalue.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the any parameterhaving the at least one other parameter value differs from parameterscontained in the parameter class indicated by the signaled class value.5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprisingselecting the parameters contained in the at least one parameter classbased on relevance thereof to communication.
 6. A method according toany one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said signaling does not includeparameter values for common parameters for which all subscriber systemsof the communications system have an identical parameter value.
 7. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the parameter class indicated bythe signaled class value contains the parameter of the at least oneother parameter value, and the parameter of the as least one otherparameter value replaces a value corresponding to a same parametercontained in the parameter class indicated by the signaled class value.8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the parameter class indicatedby the signaled class value contains the any parameter of the at leastone other parameter value.
 9. A method according to claim 2, wherein theany parameter having the at least one other parameter value differs fromparameters contained in the parameter class indicated by the signaledclass value.
 10. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 4, whereinsaid signaling signals other parameter values of at least two otherparameters, including at least one first parameter contained in theparameter class indicated by the signaled class value and at least onesecond parameter different from the parameters contained in theparameter class indicated by the signaled class value.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising selecting the parameterscontained in the at least one parameter class based on relevance thereofto communication.
 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein saidsignaling does not include parameter values for common parameters forwhich all subscriber systems of the communications system have anidentical parameter value.
 13. A method according to claim 5, whereinsaid signaling does not include parameter values for common parametersfor which all subscriber systems of the communications system have anidentical parameter value.
 14. A radio communications system,comprising: at least one subscriber station having specific capabilitiesrepresented by parameters and the specific capabilities determinable byparameter values of the parameters, wherein one or more of theparameters are contained in at least one parameter class, each parameterclass represents various combinations of parameter values relating tothe one or more parameters contained in each parameter class, and aclass value is assigned to each parameter class to indicate a parameterclass, and wherein a subscriber station being configured to signal botha class value that indicates a parameter class, the class value being arepresentation of one or more parameters contained within the parameterclass and the values of the one or more parameters contained within theparameter class, and at least one other parameter value of anyparameter, to at least one network device of the radio communicationsystem; and network devices, configured to communicate with the at leastone subscriber station, a network device configured to determinespecific capabilities of a subscriber station based upon receiving botha class value and other parameter value of any parameter, and torecognize from the received class value by a comparison with specifiedparameter classes, one or more parameters contained within a parameterclass and values of the one or more parameters contained within theparameter class, and to recognize the other parameter value of anyparameter.
 15. A network device of a radio communications systemperforming network-side recognition of specific capabilities of at leastone subscriber station of the communications system, where the specificcapabilities are represented by parameters and the specific capabilitiesare determined by parameter values of the parameters, comprising: meansfor receiving from the at least one subscriber station signaling datawhich contain both a class value that indicates a parameter class,wherein one or more of the parameters are contained in at least oneparameter class, each parameter class represents various combinations ofparameter values relating to the one or more parameters contained ineach parameter class, and a class value is assigned to each parameterclass to indicate a parameter class, thereby the signaled class valuebeing a representation of both of one or more parameters containedwithin the parameter class and values of the one or more parameterswithin the parameter class, and at least one other parameter value ofany parameter; means for receiving both a class value and otherparameter value of any parameter; and means for recognizing specificcapabilities of a subscriber station by recognizing from the receivedclass value based upon a comparison with specified parameter classes,one or more parameters contained within a parameter class and values ofthe one or more parameters contained within the parameter class andrecognizing the other parameter value of any parameter.
 16. A subscriberstation of a radio communications system having at least one networkdevice, comprising: means for transmitting to at least one networkdevice of the communications system signaling data relating to specificcapabilities of the subscriber station, which are determinable accordingto parameter value of parameters representing the specific capabilities;means for containing one or more of the parameters, in at least oneparameter class; means for specifying each parameter class to representvarious combinations of parameter values relating to the one or moreparameters contained in each parameter class; means for assigning aclass value, to each parameter class to indicate a parameter class; andmeans for signaling, by the subscriber station, both a class value thatindicates a parameter class, the class value being a representation ofboth one or parameters contained within the parameter class and thevalues of the one or more parameters contained within the parametersclass, at least one other parameter value of any device of anyparameter, to a network device of the radio communications systems.